Olivia Kline is a former Mentone Girls’ SC student who graduated in 2015. She is currently in the VIS and took the time away from her busy schedule to talk about her golf and aspirations!

First off Liv, congratulations on your hole-in-one. Tell us about it!I was playing in the Lake Macquire Amateur event in early January and was practicing one of the toughest holes in the tournament. Coincidentally Mum was taking photos at the time and I hit a 7-iron into the wind, 117m on a Par 3 for a hole-in-one. As you can see the photos I was shocked and my reaction went through all the emotions! Hole-in-ones are just pure luck. As a kid I would try but not anymore. My main aim is to always shoot under par and my handicap which is plus 2.How did you get into golf?I grew up watching Dad and Grandad play and in 2009 when I was 12 years old I started playing at Victoria Golf Club in Cheltenham. I started off playing with other young girls and just moved forward in the sport competing against other girls much older than me.As a 15 year old you were picked for the Victorian Junior Team in the Australian Junior Interstate series, the youngest by 2 years, how was that experience? There were other girls old enough to play in the tournament but I think my coach saw that I was a competitor and gave me the opportunity. Experiences like that and within my family have made me pretty grounded and thankful. In golf I think you have to be modest and not get a big head because in the end you are playing against yourself and the course more than anything.What is your tournament schedule like and what has been your best result/s?Since November 2015 I have played in 10 events, about 1 or 2 a month. Winter is really quiet in Australia so most amateurs head overseas to compete. I won the SA Junior Masters by 9 strokes in 2015 where we played 8 rounds in 5days and my best result would be going 5-under at Victoria where I went bogey free and no over the cards scores. I have also been a semi-finalist at Victoria Amateur, top 16 at Australian Amateur and 8th at the Riversdale Cup. At the Interstate series last year I captained the Victorian Girls team and was a part of two teams which made history by winning the men’s, women’s, boys and girls competitions.You are also in the VIS, what does that entail?Last March I was inducted into the VIS and for six months I was the only girl in the team. We train 3 mornings a week from 6.30am and do heavy weight exercises such as squats, deadlifts, bench press, jumping, posture and mobility. I have adapted to the change and really enjoy lifting the weights now, I feel a lot stronger. We also practice our golf on Monday and Friday mornings where after the gym we go to Spring Valley Golf Club from 9.30-3pm, they are long days.In 2015 you were lucky enough to travel to the USA as well as meeting Greg Norman in Melbourne!That’s right, last year in Year 12 I competed for Australia in the World Junior Championships in San Diego which was a great experience as I got to stay with a host family. However, the time away from school did influence my ability to do well in VCE.Meeting Greg Norman was really cool. I was a bit hesitant in the lead up but as soon as I met him I realised he was a really nice guy, very encouraging and sweet. He gave me some golf tips about keeping my club parallel to the ground and mostly told me to keep playing as much golf as I can.Moving forward, what are you goals for 2016 and beyond?I will be in the Victoria Women’s Interstate Series team again this year in Brisbane, hopefully we can win all four competitions again. I’d like to play more National ranking events so I can move from my current position of 11th to the top 5 amateur women. Most importantly, I just want to stay grounded and enjoy my golf. I am also going to study teaching online at Open Universities Australia.

Time for your favourites... Athlete? Roger Federer and Jessica KordaFood? Oysters. I have that many, I love them (laughing)Song and band? RnB Friday’s always gets a listen toQuote? “Life is full of setbacks, success determines how you handle those setbacks”Class/teacher?Ummm probably PE.Moment at MGSC?Haha can I say leaving? Or being involved in a really sporty friendship group. Plus all of the Purcell’s Bakers Delight food that they brought to school from work.

Would you rathers?Be able to fly or be invisible?FlyHave hiccups for the rest of your life or have the feeling of sneezing but not being able to? SneezingLive a life that lasts 1000 years or 10 lives that last 100 year each?10 lives that last 100 years each.Have a dragon or be a dragon? Have a dragon, it would be so intimidating.Be super fast or super strong?Super strongNever be able to speak again or always say everything that is on your mind? Haha. Gift of the gab or no gab at all… No gab.Get up early or stay up late? Get up early for sure, I love the sunrise.

Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule Liv, and good luck for the remainder of 2016 and beyond. Go Mentone!